Drag Queens Get Apology From Facebook For 'Real Names Only' Dustup
By social media editor Melony Roy
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Facebook has fulfilled its promise to meet with leaders of the gay and lesbian community after the enforcement of the social media behemoth's "real names only" policy led to the suspension of several drag queens' accounts.
Facebook has apologized to users affected by its "real name" policy and promised to enhance the enforcement of the policy so that people can be their "authentic" selves online, even if it's not their legal name.
Ian McCrossan, of Philadelphia, better known as "Brittany Lynne," says Facebook is starting to recognize the power of the drag queen:
"A lot of people used to consider drag queens the clowns or court jesters of the community, but what they don't realize is that here in the LGBT community, the drag queens are the lifeblood of the nightlife scene."
Mark Snyder, the senior communications manager of the Transgender Law Center, was among the coalition of community leaders at the meeting with Facebook's chief product officer, Chris Cox (sixth from right in photo, holding coffee cup).
"We really feel like they heard us," Snyder (seventh from left, in grey jacket) told KYW Newsradio afterward. "Chris Cox seems like a cool guy, and he really seems like he heard our concerns and that he shares our value of everyone being able to be their real self online."
In a blog post, Cox admits the policy has "not worked flawlessly" and Facebook is working to make the policy better while still upholding its basic premise that users identify by "real life" names.
